Pakistan's Full Bowling Arsenal Returns for First Test Against England
Pakistan has named a formidable XI for the first Test against England, with Aamer Jamal making his return to Test cricket since his impressive debut tour of Australia. His inclusion strengthens Pakistan's lineup, allowing them to field an all-rounder alongside pace spearheads Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and spinner Abrar Ahmed.
This marks the first time in over a year that Pakistan's first-choice bowling attack is fully fit and available, as all four missed the recent series against Bangladesh. Despite Abdullah Shafique's inconsistent form, he retains his spot in the batting order after public support from captain Shan Masood.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Multan, Shan expressed optimism about the conditions and the team's balanced squad. "We are in uncharted territory here in Multan. We've tried to cover all bases with three seamers, two spinners, and batting depth," he said.
Pakistan's batting remains a concern, with key players struggling for runs. The clash presents an intriguing contest between Pakistan’s underperforming batting lineup and England’s inexperienced bowling attack, featuring Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.
Shan acknowledged England's revolutionary "Bazball" approach, saying, "England's mindset has shown the world that there are new ways to approach the game. While it's inspiring, we are focused on playing our way—absorbing pressure when needed and reacting appropriately to situations."
Pakistan is determined to bounce back after a challenging year. Vice-captain Saud Shakeel and head coach Jason Gillespie emphasized the importance of sticking to their game plan and avoiding England's aggressive tactics. Shan echoed these sentiments, adding, "2024 has been tough for Pakistan cricket. There's a lot of hurt within the team, but we've kept faith in our players and are focused on turning things around."
Pakistan XI for 1st Test: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed
Updated on 6th October, 2024 by MyFortune11